5I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don't do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother.G191G3654G4202G1722G5213G2532G5108G4202G3748G3687G3761G3687G1722G1484G5620G5100G2192G3962G1135 2You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.G2532G5210G2075G5448G2532G3996G3780G3123G3996G2443G4160G5124G2041G1808G1537G3319G5216 3Even though I am not with you in person, I am with you in the Spirit. And as though I were there, I have already passed judgment on this manG1063G1473G3303G5613G548G4983G1161G3918G4151G2919G2235G5613G3918G2716G3779G2716G5124 4in the name of the Lord Jesus. You must call a meeting of the church. I will be present with you in spirit, and so will the power of our Lord Jesus.G1722G3686G2257G2962G2424G5547G5216G4863G2532G1699G4151G4862G1411G2257G2962G2424G5547 5Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.G3860G5108G4567G1519G3639G4561G2443G4151G4982G1722G2250G2962G2424 6Your boasting about this is terrible. Don't you realize that this sin is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough?G5216G2745G3756G2570G1492G3756G3754G3398G2219G2220G3650G5445 7Get rid of the old "yeast" by removing this wicked person from among you. Then you will be like a fresh batch of dough made without yeast, which is what you really are. Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.G1571G3767G3820G2219G2443G5600G3501G5445G2531G2075G106G1063G2532G5547G2257G3957G2380G5228G2257 8So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth.G5620G1858G3361G1722G3820G2219G3366G1722G2219G2549G2532G4189G235G1722G106G1505G2532G225 9When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin.G1125G5213G1722G1992G3361G4874G4205 10But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that.G2532G3756G3843G4205G5127G2889G2228G4123G2228G727G2228G1496G1893G686G3784G1831G1537G2889 11I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people.G1161G3570G1125G5213G3361G4874G1437G5100G3687G80G2228G4205G2228G4123G2228G1496G2228G3060G2228G3183G2228G727G5108G3366G4906 12It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.G1063G5101G3427G2919G2532G1854G2919G3780G5210G2919G2080 13God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."G1161G1854G2316G2919G2532G1808G1537G5216G846G4190
6When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers!G5111G5100G5216G2192G4229G4314G2087G2919G1909G94G2532G3780G1909G402Don't you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can't you decide even these little things among yourselves?G1492G3756G1492G3754G40G2919G2889G2532G1487G2889G2919G1722G5213G2075G370G2922G16463Don't you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.G1492G3756G3754G2919G32G3386G1065G9824If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church?G1437G3303G3767G2192G2922G982G2523G5128G1848G1722G15775I am saying this to shame you. Isn't there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues?G3004G4314G5213G1791G3779G2076G3756G4680G1722G5213G3761G1520G3739G1410G1252G303G3319G846G806But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!G235G80G2919G3326G80G2532G5124G1909G5717Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?G2235G3303G3767G2076G3654G2275G1722G5213G3754G2192G2917G3326G1438G1302G91G3780G3123G91G1302G650G3780G3123G6508Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.G235G5210G91G2532G650G2532G5023G809Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,G2228G1492G3756G3754G94G2816G3756G2816G932G2316G4105G3361G4105G3777G4205G3777G1496G3777G3432G3777G3120G3777G73310or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.G3777G2812G3777G4123G3777G3183G3756G3060G3756G727G3756G2816G932G231611Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.G2532G5023G2258G5100G235G628G235G37G235G1344G1722G3686G2962G2424G2532G1722G4151G2257G231612You say, "I am allowed to do anything"—but not everything is good for you. And even though "I am allowed to do anything," I must not become a slave to anything.G3956G1832G3427G235G3956G4851G3756G4851G3956G1832G3427G235G1473G1850G3756G1850G5259G510013You say, "Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food." (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can't say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.G1033G2836G2532G2836G1033G1161G2316G2673G2532G5026G2532G5023G1161G4983G3756G4202G235G2962G2532G2962G498314And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.G1161G2316G1453G2532G1453G2962G2532G1825G2532G1825G2248G1223G846G141115Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!G1492G3756G3754G5216G4983G2076G3196G5547G142G3767G142G3196G5547G4160G3196G4204G3361G109616And don't you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, "The two are united into one."G2228G1492G3756G3754G2853G4204G2076G1520G4983G1063G1417G5346G2071G1519G3391G456117But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.G1161G2853G2962G2076G1520G415118Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.G5343G4202G3956G265G3739G1437G444G4160G2076G1622G4983G1161G4203G264G1519G2398G498319Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,G2228G1492G3756G3754G5216G4983G2076G3485G40G4151G1722G5213G3739G2192G575G2316G2532G2075G3756G143820for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.G1063G59G5092G1211G1392G2316G1722G5216G4983G2532G1722G5216G4151G3748G2076G2316
7Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to live a celibate life.G1161G4012G3739G1125G3427G2570G444G3361G680G1135 2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.G1223G1161G4202G2192G1538G2192G1438G1135G2532G2192G1538G2192G2398G435 3The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs.G591G435G591G1135G3784G2133G1161G3668G2532G1135G435 4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.G1135G1850G3756G1850G2398G4983G235G435G1161G3668G2532G435G1850G3756G1850G2398G4983G235G1135 5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.G650G3361G240G1509G302G5100G1537G4859G4314G2540G2443G4980G3521G2532G4335G2532G4905G1909G846G3825G3363G4567G3985G5209G3363G1223G5216G192 6I say this as a concession, not as a command.G1161G3004G5124G2596G4774G3756G2596G2003 7But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. But God gives to some the gift of marriage, and to others the gift of singleness.G1063G2309G3956G444G1511G2532G5613G1683G235G1538G2192G2398G5486G1537G2316G3739G3303G3779G1161G3739G3779 8So I say to those who aren't married and to widows—it's better to stay unmarried, just as I am.G3004G1161G22G2532G5503G2076G2570G846G1437G3306G2504G5613G2504 9But if they can't control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It's better to marry than to burn with lust.G1161G1487G1467G3756G1467G1060G1063G2076G2909G1060G2228G4448 10But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.G1161G1060G3853G3756G1473G235G2962G5563G3361G1135G5563G575G435 11But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.G1161G2532G1437G5563G3306G22G2228G2644G435G2532G863G3361G435G863G1135 12Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a Christian man has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.G1161G3062G3004G1473G3756G2962G1536G80G2192G1135G571G2532G846G4909G3611G3326G846G863G3361G863G846G863 13And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.G2532G1135G3748G2192G435G571G2532G846G4909G3611G3326G846G863G3361G863G846 14For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.G1063G571G435G37G1722G1135G2532G571G1135G37G1722G435G686G1893G2076G5216G5043G169G1161G3568G2076G40 15(But if the husband or wife who isn't a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the Christian husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)G1161G1487G571G5563G5563G80G2228G79G1402G3756G1402G1722G5108G1161G2316G2564G2248G1722G1515 16Don't you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don't you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?G1063G5101G1492G1135G1487G4982G435G2228G5101G1492G435G1487G4982G1135 17Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.G1508G5613G2316G3307G1538G5613G2962G2564G1538G3779G4043G2532G3779G1299G1722G3956G1577 18For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.G2564G5100G2564G4059G1986G3361G1986G2564G5100G2564G1722G203G4059G3361G4059 19For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God's commandments.G4061G2076G3762G2532G203G2076G3762G235G5084G1785G2316 20Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.G3306G1538G3306G1722G5026G2821G1722G3739G2564 21Are you a slave? Don't let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.G2564G1401G3199G4671G3361G3199G235G1499G1410G1096G1658G5530G3123 22And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.G1063G2564G1722G2962G1401G2076G2962G558G3668G2532G2564G1658G2076G5547G1401 23God paid a high price for you, so don't be enslaved by the world.G59G5092G1096G3361G1096G1401G444 24Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.G80G3306G1538G1722G3739G2564G1722G5129G3306G3844G2316 25Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.G1161G4012G3933G2192G3756G2003G2962G1161G1325G1106G5613G1653G5259G2962G1511G4103 26Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.G3543G3767G5124G5225G2570G1223G1764G318G3754G2570G444G3779G1511 27If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married.G1210G1135G2212G3361G3080G3089G575G1135G2212G3361G1135 28But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.G1161G2532G1437G1060G264G3756G264G2532G1437G3933G1060G264G3756G264G1161G5108G2192G2347G4561G1161G1473G5339G5216 29But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.G1161G5124G5346G80G2540G4958G2076G3063G2443G2532G2192G1135G5600G5613G2192G3361 30Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.G2532G2799G5613G2799G3361G2532G5463G5613G5463G3361G2532G59G5613G2722G3361 31Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.G2532G5530G5127G2889G5613G3361G2710G1063G4976G5129G2889G3855 32I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and thinking how to please him.G1161G1511G2309G5209G275G22G3309G3588G2962G4459G700G2962 33But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.G1161G1060G3309G3588G2889G4459G700G1135 34His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.G3307G1135G2532G3933G22G3309G3588G2962G2443G5600G40G2532G4983G2532G4151G1161G1060G3309G3588G2889G4459G700G435 35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.G1161G5124G3004G4314G5216G846G4851G3756G2443G1911G1029G5213G235G4314G2158G2532G2145G2962G563 36But if a man thinks that he's treating his fiancee improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin.G1161G1536G3543G807G1909G846G3933G1437G5230G5600G2532G3784G3779G1096G4160G3739G2309G264G3756G1060 37But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.G1161G3739G2476G1476G1722G2588G2192G3361G318G1161G2192G1849G4012G2398G2307G2532G2919G5124G2919G1722G846G2588G5083G1438G3933G4160G2573 38So the person who marries his fiancee does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even better.G5620G2532G1547G4160G2573G1161G1547G3361G1547G4160G2908 39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.G1135G1210G3551G1909G5550G3745G846G435G2198G1161G1437G846G435G2837G2076G1658G1060G3739G2309G3440G1722G2962 40But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God's Spirit when I say this.G1161G2076G3107G1437G3306G3779G3306G2596G1699G1106G1161G1380G2504G2192G4151G2316
8Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that "we all have knowledge" about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.G1161G4012G1494G1492G3754G3956G2192G1108G1108G5448G1161G26G3618 2Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.G1161G1536G1380G1492G5100G1097G3762G3764G2531G1163G1097 3But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.G1161G1536G25G2316G3778G1097G5259G846 4So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.G4012G3767G1035G1494G1492G3754G1497G3762G1722G2889G2532G3754G3762G2087G2316G1508G1520 5There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.G1063G1512G2532G1526G3004G2316G1535G1722G3772G1535G1909G1093G5618G1526G2316G4183G2532G2962G4183 6But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.G235G2254G1520G2316G3962G1537G3739G3956G2532G2249G1519G846G2532G1520G2962G2424G5547G1223G3739G3956G2532G2249G1223G846 7However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.G235G3756G1722G3956G1108G1161G5100G4893G1497G2193G737G2068G5613G1494G2532G846G4893G5607G772G3435 8It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. We don't lose anything if we don't eat it, and we don't gain anything if we do.G1161G1033G3936G2248G3756G2316G1063G3777G1437G5315G4052G3777G3362G5315G3362G5302 9But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.G1161G991G3381G4458G3778G1849G5216G1096G4348G770 10For if others see you—with your "superior knowledge"—eating in the temple of an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?G1063G1437G5100G1492G4571G3588G2192G1108G2621G1722G1493G3618G3780G4893G846G5607G772G3618G1519G2068G1494 11So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed.G2532G1909G4674G1108G622G770G80G622G1223G3739G5547G599 12And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.G1161G264G3779G1519G80G2532G5180G846G770G4893G264G1519G5547 13So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don't want to cause another believer to stumble.G1355G1487G1033G4624G3450G80G4624G5315G3364G2907G1519G165G3363G4624G3450G80G4624
9Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?G1510G3756G652G1510G3756G1658G3780G3708G2424G5547G2257G2962G2075G3756G5210G3450G2041G1722G2962 2Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.G1487G1510G3756G652G243G235G1065G1510G5213G1063G4973G1699G651G2075G5210G1722G2962 3This is my answer to those who question my authority.G1699G627G350G1691G2076G3778 4Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?G2192G3378G1849G5315G2532G4095 5Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?G2192G3378G1849G4013G79G1135G5613G2532G3062G652G2532G80G2962G2532G2786 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?G2228G1473G3441G2532G921G2192G3756G2192G1849G3361G2038 7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?G5101G4754G4218G2398G3800G5101G5452G290G2532G2068G3756G1537G2590G846G2228G5101G4165G4167G2532G2068G3756G1537G1051G4167 8Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?G2980G5023G3361G2596G444G2228G3004G3780G3551G5023G2532 9For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?G1063G1125G1722G3551G3475G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G3361G3199G2316G3199G1016 10Wasn't he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.G2228G3004G3843G1223G2248G1223G1223G2248G1223G1063G1125G3754G722G3784G722G1909G1680G2532G248G1680G3348G1909G846G1680 11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?G1487G2249G4687G5213G4152G3173G1487G2249G2325G5216G4559 12If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.G1487G243G3348G1849G5216G3756G2249G3123G235G5530G3756G5530G5026G1849G235G4722G3956G3363G1325G5100G1464G2098G5547 13Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.G1492G3756G1492G3754G2038G2413G2068G1537G2411G4332G2379G4829G2379 14In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.G2532G3779G1299G2962G1299G2605G2098G2198G1537G2098 15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.G1161G1473G5530G3762G5130G1161G3756G1125G5023G2443G1096G3779G1096G1722G1698G1063G3123G3427G599G2570G2228G2443G5100G2758G3450G2745G2758 16Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!G1063G1437G2097G3427G2076G3756G2745G1063G318G1945G3427G1161G3759G2076G3427G3362G2097G3362G2097 17If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.G1063G1487G4238G5124G1635G2192G3408G1161G1487G210G3622G4100 18What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.G5101G2076G3427G3408G3767G2443G2097G5087G2098G5547G77G1519G2710G3361G3450G1849G1722G2098 19Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.G1063G5607G1658G1537G3956G1402G1683G1402G3956G2443G2770G4119 20When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.G2532G2453G1096G5613G2453G2443G2770G2453G5259G3551G5613G5259G3551G2443G2770G5259G3551 21When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.G459G5613G459G5607G3361G459G2316G235G1772G5547G2443G2770G459 22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.G772G1096G5613G772G2443G2770G772G1096G3956G3956G2443G4982G3843G4982G5100 23I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.G1161G5124G4160G1223G2098G1223G2443G1096G4791G846G4791 24Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!G1492G3756G3754G5143G1722G4712G5143G3956G3303G1161G1520G2983G1017G3779G5143G2443G2638 25All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.G1161G3956G75G1467G3956G3303G3767G1565G2443G2983G5349G4735G1161G2249G862 26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.G1473G5106G3779G5143G3756G5613G84G3779G4438G3756G5613G1194G109 27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.G235G5299G3450G4983G2532G1396G3381G4458G2784G243G846G1096G96
Dublin, OH
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